This photo of the Florida peninsula was taken by a crew member of the space shuttle Discovery from 190 miles above the Caribbean Sea on January 26, 1985, a clear, cool winter day. The photo shows parallel cloud banks off Florida's east coast, associated with a mid-latitudeÊcyclone that had crossed the nation earlier in the week. The West Palm Beach- Ft. Lauderdale- Miami megalopolis is clearly visible, as is the large agricultural area south of Lake Okeechobee. This low area, known as the Mucklands, has rich organic soils that were drained for cultivation early in this century. The elaborate drainage system of canals and water impoundment areas used for controlling water within the Everglades can also be seen. Although almost one-third of the state's inhabitants live south of Lake Okeechobee, much of the southern peninsula remains unoccupied, the majority of which is under federal and state control.
The state's large bays, estuaries, capes, islands, and beaches stand out conspicuously. The white sand beaches of Miami Beach and Cape Canaveral are readily visible. The dark band which separates the cape from the peninsula is actually a lagoon, although called the Indian River. Though less distinct, urban areas such as Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Daytona Beach, and Jacksonville may be identified. The parallel lines that begin just to the west of Lake Istokpoga and extend northward are not man-made. They are ancientÊbeachÊridges that are separated from each other by low marshy areas with denser vegetation. Between the St. Johns River and Ocala is a large, lightly populated area covered by scrub pines. Much of this area lies within the Ocala National Forest. Other forests farther to the north also appear as dark areas on the photo. The lighter areas are more open and are often used for grazing, citrus production, and field crops.
